Foundation Programme
The Foundation Programme (FP) is hosted on:
Regular Saturday mornings from 8.30am - 12.45pm at
Tushita Buddhist Centre in Rondebosch studying
Joyful Path of Good Fortune with Gen Pagpa
Also, Wednesday evenings 7.00 - 9.00pm
studying Universal Compassion with Gen Pagpa
There are many benefits to studying on the FP, some of which include:
- We gain great confidence in meditation and its practice in daily life.
- We have the opportunity to study Buddhism closely with a qualified teacher.
- We have the regular support of fellow practitioners.
About the Programme
The purpose of the Foundation Programme is to provide a systematic presentation of particular subjects of Mahayana Buddhism to enable practitioners to deepen their knowledge and experience of Buddhism.
What commitments are involved?
Participants enroll for each book or part of a book and then may study and remain on the programme for as long as they wish.
With each course participants undertake to:
• attend all classes
• study and memorize the essential points of the subject
• sit an examination at the end of the course
How is the Programme organized?
There are five terms each year of six to seven weeks each year.
Where & When are the classes held?
at the Tushita Kadampa Buddhist Centre, in Rondebosch,
on Saturday mornings 8.30am-12.45pm (with a break in between class)
and Wednesday evenings 7.00-9.00pm.
How can I enroll and what are the costs?
In order to enrol you would need to have been to at least a few drop-in meditation classes in order to have a basic understanding of Buddhism.
You can come along to sample a class before deciding whether to enrol.
It is possible to join at any time throughout the course.
If you wish to find out more please contact the Centre by phone: 021 685 3428 or email.
Students who enrol on the Foundation Programme automatically become a Member of the Centre, which includes a monthly membership fee, starting at R275 per month. However no one is turned away for lack of funds.
More info about membership.
Advice from Venerable Geshe Kelsang about the benefits of Foundation Programme
“Our present understanding and experience of Dharma is quite superficial. There is a big gap between our mind and Dharma and we cannot apply Dharma in our daily lives. Our approach remains passive, like someone watching television, and our mind remains as uncontrolled as before. Why is this? It is because we are not studying systematically, according to a specially designed program. If we just pick at Dharma randomly we shall never gain deep and stable experience. For this reason the spiritual programs offered in New Kadampa Tradition Centres are very important.” Geshe Kelsang Gyatso